Tagged!

This winter I was sick and just didn't keep up with posting like I needed to. The Fibro complicated things but I hope I have a handle on it now. During that period Megan at Faery Tales are Real tagged me with this fun set of questions. I love her blog and planned on responding but . . . well why don't I just stop apologizing and get on with it?

Here are the rules:

Post 11 random things about yourself, answer the questions I ask you, then create 11 more questions for the people you tag and go to their blog and let them know they’ve been tagged.

If you don’t want to create a post for this, then please feel free to answer these questions on my blog.

Now for the random part:

1. When I was a little girl I had three dream jobs in mind. I wanted to be an actress, a teacher/writer, and I wanted to be a Solid Gold Dancer. Anybody remember that show? I'm so sorry I decided to share that. lol

2. Let's see . . . I was in the Army. That's where I met my husband. I also served in the same unit as my father. I don't think many people can say that.

3. I've always loved historical fiction and part of me would love to be able to time travel and visit those periods in time. About the only time period I would rule out is the World Wars. It was so unpleasant -- and fairly recent. I think about it as a kind of vacation idea though. I am fairly attached to my computer, air conditioning, toothbrushes and modern medicine.

4. I love to watch TV shows where they have a mystery to solve - or a bad guy to catch. It's like reading a mystery novel. My husband and I try to figure out who it is and often pause the show to analyze clues while we're watching.

 5. I have a small collection of carnival and depression glass. I learned about it and thought it was so pretty that I picked up a few pieces that are displayed around my house. 

6. I also collect old books. I especially love old school books. I have some from the 1800s but my favorites are probably the ones from the 1920s - 1960s. I love the illustrations in them. It may be misleading, but I love the idealism and positive values.

7. Though I am terrified of being on stage and in front of crowds, I love to do skits and (to a lesser degree) teach seminars and classes. I have been in front of thousands a couple times and did a good job once on stage, but I get sick to my stomach and literally shake with fear before I do it. I even wore a mustache and beard and pretended to be a man for a VBS program one year. I didn't think I'd ever live that one down.

8. Between the pain in my fingers and a lack of time I don't get to do it very often, but I make jewelry as a hobby. I'm pretty new at it -- and my lack of practice doesn't help me . . . but I like to do it. The ironic thing is that I don't wear jewelry very often. A lot of it ends up being gifts and I have used it as a way to raise money for mission work as well.

9. I love butterflies. I have a bunch of pictures of them, I always get a butterfly calendar every year. Not only are they beautiful but they symbolize rebirth, spring, and the ability to transform into something entirely new.

10. My favorite flower is the Iris. My grandmother loved it and she was the one who influenced me to become a Christian. She was a special lady.

11. I like to be funny and my husband often tells me I have a great sense of humor. A lot of people don't know that about me because I'm really shy and tend to stay quiet around people I don't know. I'm working on breaking that habit. I become a regular stand up comic when I'm scared though. I cracked jokes right and left before my surgeries - and even got one of the nurses in trouble for laughing with me. 

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Now for Megan's questions:

1.  Are you able to have background noise when you are reading?  If so, what type of noise do you usually have on while you are reading? I prefer to have quiet. Any loud noise will distract me from what I'm reading. Having said that, I don't like it perfectly quiet. Instrumental music or the TV on very low is perfect for me.

2.  Do you have any pet(s)?  If so, details please : ) I have three cats and two dogs. I have to admit the dogs were mostly for my boys. I still love them, but I'm mostly a cat person. We also have a fish tank.

3.  Do you have any unfulfilled dreams? I think everyone does. I'm writing and teaching though. I even do some acting. I'm getting to do most of what I dreamed of as a child.

4.  What is one of your pet peeves? Commercials. They last longer, are at a different volume than the show, & a lot of shows have built-in commercials too. "Look at how my car dials and can use the navigation system ... and it can assist with parking too! "{groan} 

 (a younger Thomas curled up on my desk)


5.  Why did you start a blog? I did it because I'm both a reader and writer and I wanted to share my love of books with others who felt the same way.


6.  What is your favorite season and why? Spring - because of the whole renewal and rebirth of everything around us that reminds us of the new chance we have in Christ. (The weather is also nicer without being too warm.)
                                                                                    (Faith looking poised and graceful as usual)
7.  What is your favorite book? That's hard. I read so many great books. To pick a favorite it has to be one you go back to over and over again. A couple fit that bill but the one I most revisit is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.


8.  What is your favorite hobby? Perhaps it may seem too obvious to say reading, but that it my number one hobby. I also play word games, and I already mentioned the jewelry-making.


9.  What time of day do you normally blog? I have problems sleeping so I usually blog in the middle of the night. So please extend some grace if I blabber on without making any sense at all.


10.  Have you been to any foreign countries? I have been to quite a few foreign countries. I graduated from high school overseas and visited lots of places. I've been very lucky in that area. There are still quite a few places I'd like to go.


11.  What makes you laugh the hardest? Myself. My animals. My husband . . . a lot of things. 

Laughter is good medicine.

Here are my questions:

1. What would be your dream vacation?

2. Do you set goals/challenges for yourself like New Year's resolutions? Why or why not?

3. What is your favorite job you've ever held?

4. If you could live in any time period in history which one would you pick?

5. Would you rather read inside on a cozy piece of furniture or outside listening to the sounds of nature?

6. Are you a city or a country person?

7. What's your favorite thing about blogging?

8. Would you ever do a reality show? If so, which one?

9. Have you ever won anything in your life?

10. What's your favorite thing to cook or bake?

11. Do you like to shop in stores or online?

I am tagging:

Renee @ Black 'n Gold Girl's Book Spot 

Deborah @ Butterfly Journey

Susan @ Journeys of Love ... Inspired by Faith


Angie @ Never a Dull Moment


Hannah @ Project Journal

If I didn't tag you and you'd like to participate, please let me know you're going to do so and I'll add you to our list here and visit your blog to see the answers. You can also answer in the comments. The more the merrier. :o)